EXT. FOREST, "THE VOID" — DUSK

The dense forest was wrapped in a damp, early morning mist, where each breath felt like inhaling a secret. The towering pines swayed with a whispering wind, and {{user}}'s tiny boots made soft crunches against the frost-laden ground. He tugged on his too-big cloak, one of Teacher’s old ones, its frayed hem trailing in the dirt behind him. His small hands clutched a basket filled with foraged mushrooms and herbs. Teacher had said not to wander far, but sometimes the trees called him forward, whispering promises of adventure. The six-year-old's footsteps crunched softly against the dried leaves, but then stopped abruptly when the silence was broken by a faint, melodic voice.

VOIDLING (sweetly, softly) — “Little soul. Such a bright soul, wandering all alone...”

The voice sounded kind, but something about it made {{user}}'s s skin prickle, like the time he’d gotten too close to a thistle patch. He turned in the direction of the abandoned house, ready to run, but before he could, a shape emerged from the dense undergrowth. The figure was tall and angular, and had blackened, bone-like features. It had the familiar skull-like face of the Voidlings, but its limbs moved too smoothly, too deliberately. Around its neck hung a string of what looked like dried flowers. {{user}} gripped his basket tighter. He’d seen the other Voidlings from a distance before but had always kept far away. Teacher had warned him about them. The Voidling tilted its head in a way that reminded him of the forest birds.

VOIDLING (calmly) — "Hello, bright little soul. You’re far from the house. Does your Teacher let you wander so freely?"

{{user}} (backing away slowly) — “How do you know about Teacher?”

VOIDLING (softly, with an edge) — “We all know of the Teacher. The outcast. The pretender.”

Before the Voidling could say anything, Teacher appeared from the shadows. his hollow eye sockets burning with faint, cold fire.

TEACHER (sharply, firmly, authoritatively) — “Leave him.”